vancouver native health society

Transcription

VANCOUVER NATIVE HEALTH SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT
1. To improve the health status of Native people by:
a) Encouraging and improving the access to all the development of health care
services for Native people;
b) Confronting those issues that directly impact on the health status of Native
people; and
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c) Improving relations and promoting communications between health care
professionals and the Native community
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2. To assist, support and undertake, if necessary, any program or activity designed to
promote health care in Native people.
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3. To secure or acquire the funds, real property or other assistance necessary to meet
the Society's purposes.
Vancouver Native Health Society strives to be accessible, accountable, responsible
and cooperative. We believe that to be effective in achieving our mission, we must be
respectful and culturally sensitive to all individuals and provide our services in a safe,
supportive and equitable environment.
To own our Healing Center and have a stable source of financing within five years
(2006) to enable VNHS to ensure a continuum of care for its patientslclients, and
provide those services with parity to mainstream services.
INSIDE
1.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
II.
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
111.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
IV.
-
,
v.
VI.
CURRENT STAFF
PROGRAMS' OVERVIEW
Medical Services
Social Services
VII.
COMMUNITY & INTER-AGENCY~LI~SON
VIII.
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Vancouver Native Health Society, 449 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1P5
Administration Phone: (604) 254 9949
Fax Line: (604) 254 9948
Medical Clinic Phone: (604) 255 9766
Fax Line: (604) 254 5750
Sheway:
(604) 658 1200
Fax Line: (604) 658 1221
V A N C O U V E R N A T I V E tdE h LTFI S O C i E T Y ' S
ANNUAL REPORT
Perry Omeasoo, President
Marilyn Mura, Vice-president
Chris Beaton, Secretary
Rosalind Breckner, Treasurer
Alexander Tam, Director
Susan Tatoosh, Director
Henri Chevillard, Director
Valencia Bird, Director
\/era Jones, Director
Yvonne Hopkins, Director
shelley Gladstone, Director
-
Susan Tatoosh
Rosalind Breckner
Perry Omeasoo
Alexander Tam
Shelley Gladstone
Marilyn Mura
I
It has been a pleasure serving as President
of Vancouver Native Health Society for the
past year. It is a very exciting time for our
Society. We are experiencing growth and
have, in my opinion, achieved some form
of success with many of our endeavors.
While we have grown, we continue to remain
connected with the community at grassroots
level, always focusing on the needs of the
disenfranchised of our people who find themselves in the Downtown Eastside. Our
mission Statement continues to guide and
direct our actions. We continue to run successful ongoing programs such as the Positive
Outlook program, the Drop-in medical clinic, Sheway, the Diabetes program and
HEP-HIVE. There are also other projects and programs too numerous to mention. By
adding the Vancouver Aboriginal Early Childhood Support Program, we hope to address
the need for services in an area in which we have not previously acted. This service will
add to the growing number of successful programs run by VNHS. I would like to
acknowledge the support of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation
who so graciously donated to this Society.
Looking towards the future, we are working on raising funds to secure a new facility.
Currently, architectural designs are being drawn up. I raise my hands to Lou Demerais,
Executive Director, for sitting at the helm of VNHS and guiding the organization through
both calm and rough waters. I also wish to thank the Board of Directors for giving of their
time and energy for the benefit of the organization. The hard work and diligence of the
staff must also be acknowledged. They are the individuals who connect on a daily basis
with those people for whom our society exists. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of
the journey.
Presentation of
VNHS plaque to
Tzu Chi Foundation
V.4NGOUVER NATIVE WEALTH SOCIETY'S ANNUAL REPORT
Although it ended on a pair of sour notes - contract losses for our Aboriginal Head Start
Program and the Co-ed Upgrading Skills Program - 2002 was a fairly good year for our Society.
All of our other programs remained intact and we can look forward to continued service and
hopefully growth in 2003.
The coming year will be a special one for the Sheway Program for a number of reasons. Firstly,
Sheway will be celebrating its tenth year of exceptional service. Secondly, Sheway will, near the
end of the year, be moving into a permanent location when it begins to share a new facility with
the YWCA's Crabtree Corner program on the 500 block of East Hastings. Last, but certainly not
least, more babies with healthier chances in life will be born.
For these reasons this year's report is dedicated not only to the Sheway Program, but also to all
of the mothers and their babies who were able to take advantage of the program, and, equally
important, all of the wonderful people who have served with Sheway, either as staff or council
members.
In writing this message, I think back to when I was approached by Dr. Liz Whynot, medical
health officer for the North Health Unit at the time. She wanted to know if we would be interested
in being a partner agency in a new approach in helping expectant women, many of them
Aboriginal, who were at risk of substance abuse. Would we also be interested in housing the
program? We of course jumped at both offers.
While Sheway's first years were at times rocky as all participants from the health authority, the
Ministry of Children and Families, the YWCA and Native Health sorted out their roles, ten years
later we have a partnership program that deserves the highest praise.
What started out as a program for some 40 mothers-to-be quite quickly grew to the point where
it became obvious that more space was needed. The Vancouver Richmond Health Board solved
that problem by providing temporary space at the corner of Hawks and East Hastings.
In concluding this message, I also wish to thank all our staff members for their continued dedicated service, our volunteers, our board of directors and all persons from the various agencies,
in and out of government, with whom we have worked in the last 12 months.
We present this report as our way of keeping our geographical and Aboriginal communities
informed of our activities and progress.
Respectfully submitted,
Lou Demerais
Administration:
Lou Demerais, Executive Director
Karla Escalante, Office ManagerIExecutive Secretary
Larry Gray, Acting Ofice Manager
Martin Ma,CGA. Finance Officer
Wendy Lowe, Bookkeeper
Robyn Vermette, Bookkeeper
Lee Anne Nelson. Administrative Assistant
Dr. Steve Adilman, Coordinator
Dr. Ron Abrahams
Dr. Cynthia Garrett
Dr. David Henderson
Dr. Steve Sharp
Dr. Anita Racic
Dr. Lorie Smith
Dr. Alje Vennema
Dr. I-Chia Sun
Dr. Gary Bauman
Dr. Helen Weiss
Dr. Adriana Zamparini
Tina Braun, Office Manager
Charina Tria,
Bernadette Boyer, M.0.A
May Mortimer, Medical Office Assistant
Melanie Charles, R.N. (Female Condom Project)
Michel Poirier. Larrv Yuen- Securitvllntake
Clinic:
Aboriginal Diabetes
Pamela Fergusson, Dietitian Corinne Mitchell, Elder
Sheway:
Monica Stokl, Coordinator
Estelle Seguin, Administrative Assistant
Nathalie Speers, Medical Office Assistant
Geo Hayes, Receptionist
Maria Burglehaus, Nutritionist
Wilma Big Sorrelhorse, 1" Nations Cook/Support Worker
Bonnie Stevens, Cook
Doctors: Ron Abrahams, Georgia Hunt, Ron Wilson
Nurses: Chris Mallette, Gwyn Mclntosh
& Laraine Michaleson
A & D Counsellors: Dana Clifford, Jennifer Kennett
Infant Development Workers: Ves na Misk in,
Monique Davidson
Social Workers: Suzanne Hinds, Tammy Sibbald
Co-Ed Upgrading Skills:
Rena Purjue, Coordinator
Darlene Bee, Assistant
Inner City Foster Parents
Project:
Pamela Dudoward, Coordinator
Rosalind Merkley, Assistant
Four Directions Recovery
Program:
Art Leon Jr., Coordinator
Darcy Demas, Assistant
Aboriginal Head Start
Joy Hall, Coordinator
Positive Outlook Home Health Care
Program:
Doreen Littlejohn, R.N./Coordinator
David Ramsay, Counsellor
Patricia Pike, Counsellor
Diane Weedon, Outreach R.N.
Gloria Rodriguez, Medications Nurse
Viola Antoine, Outreach Nurse
Marian Grad, Administrative Ass't
Jamie Dolinko, Outreach Worker
Martin Hatfield, Outreach Worker
Richard ~ o h h s o n Outreach
,
Worker
Victor Peralta, Outreach Worker
Leonard LaPlante, Securityllntake
Walter Henry, Outreach Worker
Youth Safe House:
Horacio Valle Torres, Coordinator
Dana Bower, Administrative Assistant
House Parents:
Christa Calvert, Florence Lewis
Lenke Sifkovits, Mitchell Pleet
Vicki Good, Stephen Esdon
Yve Narlock
Ken Winiski, Coordinator
William Firby, Assistant
Residential School Survivors Healing Ida Mills, Coordinator
Centre:
Tom McCallum, Elder
Lorne Meginbir,PHD
Laura McGraw, Acupuncturist
Carol Patrick,MSW Counsellor
Maxine Windsor,BSW Counsellor
Sylvia Woods, Office Administrator
-
-
Vancouver Aboriginal Early Childhood Support Marilyn Ota Coordinator
Rebecca Wallace Program Assistant
Patricia Alfred F.S.W. - Kiwassa
Christina Fortin H.I.P.P.Y. worker
6L
Kim Kerrigan
Michele Humchitt FSW - Brittania
Gerri-Lee Williams Youth FSW
Nora Wilson - FSW - Cedar Cottage
-
66
Medical Walk-In Clinic
A. D.A.P. T. (Aboriginal Diabetes Teaching & Awareness)
Female Condom Project
Positive Outlook - HIV/AIDS Home Health Care
Sheway
HepHlVE
Youth Safe House Project
Inner City Foster Parent Program
Co-Ed Life Skills Upgrading Program
Four Directions Recovery (Formerly I?R.EJ?)
Vancouver Aboriginal Early Childhood Support
Residential School Survivors Healing Centre
Music Therapy
Aboriginal Head Start Program
he Vancouver Native Health Society is an Aboriginal non-profit organization
located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, BC. The medical clinic operated by the Society was established in 1991 and provides services to all residents of the community. The operating budget for the clinic is about 1 million dollars
and comes from the Aboriginal division of the Ministry of Health, UBC Faculty of
Medicine, Health Canada and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. The clinic
offers primary medical and nursing care, specialty consultation in infectious disease
and ophthalmology, methadone maintenance, addictions counseling, diabetes education program, phlebotomy and limited medication dispensing. Three physicians and
one nurse are available Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and one physician Monday through Thursday until 8:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9:30 to
5:OO.
T
The patients attending the clinic are a heterogeneous group. Plagued by drug abuse,
poverty, unemployment, prostitution and crime, this "ghettoized" neighbourhood is
home for most of the Lower Mainland's substance dependent individuals. Thousands
of mentally ill, homeless persons, immigrants, troubled youth, and First Nations people reside in the DTES. Our patients are among the most marginalized people of society. Because of the complex biopsychosocial issues that exist here, providing health
care to this population is very challenging. Traditional service delivery models are
often ineffectual and unfortunately many people receive very limited or no care for
their illnesses. Experience has shown that service delivery models that provide integrated, innovative and comprehensive health care can improve patient acceptance of
care and compliance with treatment.
Several staff from the clinic participated in the First International Inner City Health
Conference held in Toronto. Wellson Chen, the medical researcher at VNHS presented an oral presentation entitled "Health status of aboriginal people in the inner
city of Vancouver, Canada". In addition, poster presentations were given by Dr.
Stephen Adilman, clinic coordinator, Bubli Chakraborty, Strategic Teaching Initiative
coordinator, Doreen Littlejohn, Positive Outlook coordinator, and Pamela Fergusson,
Aboriginal Diabetes Teaching and Awareness Program coordinator.
Dr. Mark Tyndall provided bi-monthly consultations for HIVIAIDS patients, and Dr.
David Maberley continued his research on eye disease in the DTES as well as provided ophthalmology consults weekly.
All the medical trainees who participated in the program over the past year felt their
experience at the clinic was very rewarding. They all gained valuable insight into the
biopsychosocial factors at play in this community. The highlight for many of them
was the community "walk about" during which they were introduced to many of the
agencies and resources available to the residents of the Downtown Eastside.
The clinic received funding from the Inuit Health Branch to promote education and
awareness of the female condom as a means to reduce the transmission of HIV and
STD's. The female condom project began in April 2002 and targeted Aboriginal
women in the Downtown Eastside. Melanie Charles, RN conducted numerous educational workshops throughout the community. These sessions also covered other
issues related to women's health including sexual and reproductive health and harm
reduction. Over 4,000 female condoms were distributed to various health centers
and other organizations within the community this past year.
In an effort to get comments on the level of satisfaction and feedback from the
patients who attend the clinic, a feedback questionnaire was conducted in July and
August of 2002. Over 300 patients completed the questionnaires. The three most
common reasons for choosing the VNHS clinic were: its convenient location (22%),
am made to feel welcome (16%), and to see a particular physician (13%). Eighty percent of the respondents had come to the clinic 5 or more times and 82% stated that
VNHS was where they received the majority of their primary care. Fifty one percent
felt it was "very easy" to access care at the clinic while 46% felt it was "easy". Too
long of a wait time was the most common reason given when asked why it was difficult to access care. Fifty eight percent of patients "strongly agreed" that their health
had improved since attending the clinic while 41
percent "agreed" that it had improved. When asked to rank ways to improve services at the clinic, the most requested improvement was to have a larger, more modern
facility, the second was to have dental services available, and the third was to have
an on-site pharmacy.
The clinic had 21,366 visits in 2002 (Chart 1).
1997
1998
1999
2000
Visits 1997-2002
CHART 1
2001
2002
The patient caseload was 4,462 with Caucasians accounting for 51%, Aboriginals
were 38%, and the remaining 11% were Hispanic, Asian, Black, and other ethnicities. Sixty four percent of the patients were male, 35% female and .5% were
transgender. Caucasian males were the largest group at 37%, followed by
Aboriginal males at 20%, Aboriginal females at 18% and Caucasian females at
14% (Table 1).
Table 1
Y2
I
[
Ethnieity
1
Caucasian
Aboriginal
Other
Asian
Hispanic
Black
Total
Male
1
Female
1612
883
118
88
93
71
1
2865
1
Trans
630
815
45
49
18
21
I
1578
1
2251
1708
163
137
111
92
9
10
0
0
0
0
I
19
Total
I
I
4462
Seventy-six percent of the Aboriginals that attended the clinic were status natives
living off-reserve; while non-status Aboriginals were at 15% and Metis were at 9%
(Table 2).
Table 2
2
Status off-reserve
Non-status off-reserve
Status on-reserve
Non-status on-reserve
Metis
Inuit
[
Total
661
126
2
4
88
2
I
883
I
815
1291
253
7
6
147
4
7
3
0
0
0
0
623
124
5
2
59
2
I
I0
I
1708
1
The clinic saw 340 HIVIAIDS patients in 2002. Males accounted for 64% (218
patients) of the cases while females were 34% (114 patients) and transgender
were 2% (8 patients). Aboriginals were 50 % of the cases, Caucasians were 44%
and other ethnicities were 6% of HIVIAIDS cases (Chart 2). The overall prevalence of HIVIAIDS within the clinic's caseload was 7.6%. Prevalence among
Aboriginals was lo%, while the prevalence among Caucasians was 6.6% making
Aboriginals 1.5 times more likely to be HIV positive than Caucasians.
1
HIVIAIDS Patients 2002
I
Aboriginal
Caucasian
Other
One hundred and eighty two patients were on methadone in 2002. Sixty five percent (119) were men and 34% (61) were women. Caucasians accounted for 69%
(126 patients) and Aboriginals 24% (44 patients) (Chart 3).
I
Methadone Patients 2002
ElMale
Female
DTrans.
Aboriginal
Caucasian
Other
Total
CHART 3
I
The clinic was notified of 40 deaths in 2002 with Aboriginals accounting for 55%
and Caucasians accounting for 45%. Forty percent of deaths were HIVIAIDS
related.
4
1
We look forward to another year of working towards improving the health status
of urban First Nations and other individuals living in the Downtown Eastside
- Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Prevention and Teaching Program
Through 'Diabetes Drop-ins' in the community, Sharing Circles, nutrition workshops, and education in local schools ADAPT attempts to address the high rates
of diabetes and its complications among Metis and off-reserve Aboriginal people
living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. ADAPT believes in promoting a culturally appropriate approach to diabetes primary prevention and health promotion
programs. ADAPT is staffed by a dietitian educator and an elder.
Cll~jjecti\lerp.
1. Raise awareness of diabetes, its risk factors, and the value of healthy
lifestyle practices;
2. Promote Aboriginal ownership of diabetes primary prevention and health
promotion programs;
3. Promote innovative approaches to diabetes primary prevention and health
promotion programs;
4. lncrease awareness and education of the target population about primary
prevention of diabetes;
5. lncrease knowledge of urban Aboriginals about healthy nutrition and
lifestyle strategies to prevent diabetes.
6. lncrease the number of Aboriginals that can act as diabetes peer counselors; and
7. Assess the effectiveness of the diabetes awareness and education program.
Statistics:
After participation in our two-day "Living the Sweet Life" workshops, the following
average results were obtained: (sample size 45)
Please circle any goals you plan on working on after taking the 'Living the Sweet
Life' diabetes course. Please circle all that apply:
Eat more healthy food
Reducelquit smoking
Visit the doctor more often
Join the diabetes program
Get more exercise
Reduce stress
83%
42%
28%
35%
76%
60%
Was there new information about managing diabetes for you?
Circle one:
Yes
87%
No
13%
'
ADAPT is funded by Health Canada, through the Off-Reserve portion of the
Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative. We would like to thank all of the community partners
for their ongoing support, and sharing of resources, particular:
Breaking the Silence, a Women's Issues and Advocacy Centre. ADAPT
and BTS have partnered to raise awareness about food security, through
workshops and newsletters.
Downtown Eastside Community Kitchens. ADAPT and DECK have partnered to create a diabetes community kitchen, with an emphasis on traditional foods.
Positive Outlook: Positive Outlook has provided ADAPT with space and
program support for a weekly diabetes drop-in.
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre: VAFS has provided ADAPT with
ongoing space and program for an ongoing weekly elder's sharing circle
Vancouver Food Provider's Coalition: ADAPT, as member of the Coalition
worked to obtain funding for the HEART program. Healthy Eating
Awareness Respect and Tradition. A program that works in partnership
with the Food Providers to increase access to nutritious meals and traditional foods in the downtown eastside. The HEART program is funded
through the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority's Aboriginal Health
Initiative.
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:f i n $ . i .rl-:-
ADAPT is looking forward to the third year of our mandate.
Thank you to all.
A.D.A.P.T. Staff at work
"Harry" pitching in.
roun
ancouver Native Health recognized in the early 1990's that the Aboriginal
HIV+ population in Vancouver needed culturally appropriate services. A
small drop-in with outreach services was set up at Vancouver Native Health
Society to connect HIV+ individuals with needed services. Numbers quickly grew
to over 500 clients.
v
HIV infection rates among Aboriginal people in Vancouver accelerated dramatically in the mid-1990s. Hepatitis B and C, TB, and numerous other physical and
mental illnesses exacerbated the crisis. Persistent poverty and marginalization,
immense barriers to health care and widespread access to addictive substances
resulted in a public health crisis previously unimaginable in North America.
In 1997 responding to the growing crisis Vancouver Native Health Society was
able to augment its' services through additional funding. This funding enabled the
Vancouver Native Health Society to successfully develop a holistic model of care
utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach to provide care, treatment, and support
services to all people living with HIVIAIDS with a strong focus on addressing the
needs of HIV+ First Nations People.
The Positive Outlook Program Overview
The program bridges gaps between hospital, community, and the myriad of specialized services in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Respect for First Nations
cultures form a basic tenet of the program. Flexible approaches recognize the
complexity of needs and the individual situation of each client; the physical, spiritual, traditional, mental, and emotional aspects are addressed. The underlying
principle of the program is building relationships based on mutual respect and
trust.
One 0.8 F.T.E. Social Worker in partnership with S t Paul's Hospital 10C HIV
ward to act as a liaison between St. Paul's and Native Health
Maximally Assisted Medication therapy for all clients in partnership with BC
Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Weekly HIVIAIDS Care Rounds at Vancouver General Hospital
Palliative Care, Hospice Resources in partnership with St. James Society
Music Therapy offered once a week at Residential School Healing Program
25 Portable Housing Subsidies in partnership with BC Housing
Depot for Loving Spoonful Meals in partnership with Loving Spoonful
Weekly assessment service for Loving Spoonful meals
Monthly Sunday dinners for 40 clients provided by Loving Spoonful
Weekly Treatment Information Program services in partnership with PWA
Weekly Food bank in partnership with the Vancouver Food Bank
Drug and alcohol liaison with Mental Patients Associations, Harbour Light
Treatment Centre, New Dawn Recovery House for Women, BC
Corrections, and Tradeworks
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Encompasses an approach that addresses the physical, spiritualltraditional
mental and emotional needs of HIVIAIDS persons.
Nutritional supports and
Services: Food Bank, Daily
Hot Meals, Loving Spoonful
Cultural Programs
Counselling for HIV,
drug and
alcohol, Methadone
maintenance
Key Approached to care
Drop in Psycho-Social Services
Outreach-NursinglMedicalCare
Crisis IntewentionAdvocacylSupport
Reducing Barriers to Care
Multidisciplinary Care
Case Management
Linkage with other sewices
Treatment on Meds
HIVIAIDS, STD's
Low Lit handouts
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The Drop-in is open 7 days a week from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, except for Tuesdays
when we are open from 12:OO PM - 2:00 PM for food bank and medication pick up
only.
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P-d Y1 1 $7
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b$<><$<%X
$-jTqi
*<<3;-i $ $ & : : i t i t ~ t l
The liaison social work position between St. Paul's Hospital and the Positive
Outlook program provides a unique partnership between the hospital and the
community of the Downtown Eastside. The purpose of this position, funded by St.
Paul's Hospital, is to maximize hospitallcommunity communication and to assist
in the coordination of community-based health and social support for Native
HealthlPositive Outlook clients with HIVlAids.
The social worker spends part of the day in the hospital, attending rounds, discussing case management with the in-hospital social workers, physicians and
other members of the acute care team, and participating in the discharge planning
for clients of the Positive Outlook Program. The number of inpatients at St.
Paul's Hospital who are registered with the Positive Outlook Program averages
8 to 10 daily. The rest of the day is devoted to the Drop-In as a member of the
community care team, helping maximize community health and social support.
Q
$4
Various support groups take place at the Positive Outlook Program, including:
MONDAY - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Alcohol and Drug Education and Awareness Group
TUESDAY - 11:00 AM - I:00 PM
Alcohol and Drug Methadone Orientation Program
- 2:00 PM - 3100PM
Alcohol and Drug Women and Wellness Support Group
WEDNESDAY - l:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Alcohol and Drug Methadone Support Group
WEDNESDAY- HIV Support Group- Facilitated by Humberto Guillen and Teresa
Bois held every Wednesday from 4:OO-6:00 PM. This group has a strong drug
and alcohol harm reduction strategy approach with a variety of speakers to educate clients re healthy living choices and the effects of drug and alcohol use when
living with HIV and Hepatitis B and C. The group has enabled many people to
make positive changes in their lives. The facilitators are dedicated to their mandate to help clients make positive changes in their lives. Psychosocial activities
and community outings bring the clients together to help form a supportive community. The facilitators empower group members to access drug and alcohol
treatment through strong volunteer outreach services thus making this program
most successful evening group.
THURSDAY PM - 2:00 PM - 3:00 pm
HIV and Addictions Education and Support Group
FRIDAY - l:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Alcohol and Drug Drop-in Day Treatment and Support Services
- 1100 PM - 2:00 PM
ADAPT Diabetic Support Group
SATURDAY- Asia Support Group - This group offers education support to the
Asian population suffering from drug and alcohol problems as well as HIV and
Sexually Transmitted Disease. Dinner is provided and Manny Cu facilitates the
group.
2002 NEW REFERRALS HIV POSITIVE
Total referrals for 2002 equaled 305 new clients including 208 new drug and alcohol referrals and 97 new HIV+ client referrals 52% of whom are Aboriginal.
We provided 37,145 case management services this past year as evidenced by
the charts numbers are up drastically with higher numbers of Aboriginal persons
utilizing our services. This is 10,000 more case management services than in
2001.
We continue to actively provide care, treatment, and support services to over
1400 HIV+ clients. We had 71,341 drop-in visits 18,731 more than in 2001. We
served 59,385 meals being 4,456 more than in 2001.
We continue to take new referrals and in a drop-in suitable for seeing 40-50
people per day we are seeing over 300 persons a day.
Our program is very cost effective and is an example of an outstanding model of
care to meet the health needs of this very ill population as hospitalizations have
decreased. Many of our clients on medication now have undetectable viral loads.
They are gaining weight, are actively engaged in treatment for their addiction
problems, and have accessed subsidized housing.
10 male
8 female
14 Non-Aboriginal persons I 2 male
2 female
18 Aboriginal persons:
32 of our clients passed away in 2002.
56% of the deaths were Aboriginal persons a,nd 43% of the deaths were NonAboriginal.
REGULAR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
PROVIDED TO HIV CLIENTS BY ETHNICIWGENDER
Services
Office visits
Home visits
Extra clients seen
Hospital visits
Phone calls
Counselling individuals
Counselling one hour groups
Consultation assessment
Repeat consultation
Crisis interventions
Accompanying clients
Accompanving clients
HIV MEDS dispensing
HIV dispensinq MEDS
PatienffMGMT conferences
Other services
TOTAL
Additional Services
not broken down into categories
Total
2001
2002
Abol Non-Abo'l
4949
5244
1261
805
289
159
201
116
516
243
984
905
0
0
38
50
52
39
238
230
260
159
Abo'l N o n - M I
7718
9031
1440
990
440
316
25 1
181
194
148
1291
857
0
1
29
20
3
3
230
188
181
116
32
35 1
2444
366
2141
14212
17
205
1892
219
1548
11831
25
540
2422
790
3463
19017
11
248
2411
370
3237
18128
Total Total
2001
Abo'l 2002Add.
10193
2066
448
317
759
1889
0
88
91
468
419
49
556
4336
585
3689
26043
TOTAL
57543
57543
2002
16749
2430
756
432
342
2148
1
49
6
418
297
36
788
4833
1160
6700
37145
94688
During 2002, the Positive Outlook Program Alcohol and Drug Services expanded
programs by developing a resource centre for day treatment groups, education
and awareness groups as well as professional support services on a daily dropin basis. The need for this expansion is attributed to an increase in client referrals
and client demand for treatment services and a day treatment group format was
considered more appropriate than individual outpatient counselling to promote
client access to programs. Scheduled counselling sessions are cffered during
specific times at the resource centre in order to enhance confidentiality and the
overall counselling therapeutic process. The specific need to provide services to
women at risk was identified due to the under-representation of this client group
within the program statistics and a day treatment group is oriented to women and
addictions. A day treatment group program for clients diagnosed HIV positive was
also developed to address the special issues of this target population. The Alcohol
and Drug Services counsellors offer assessment, intervention, treatment (group
and individual outpatient counselling), supportive outreach services as well as
referrals to community agencies, addiction treatment and recovery resources.
Client self-referrals and referrals from professionals including the VNHS Medical
Clinic for the methadone maintenance program are accepted by this program and
intake interviews are generally conducted at the Positive Outlook Program Dropin office with subsequent scheduledsessions held at the resource center.
PROGRAM SERVICES
Total Alcohol and Drug Client Cases
Total Client Visits
Total Methadone Client Referrals
Total Methadone Client Visits
Total HIV Related Client Referrals
Total HIV Related Client Visits
Total Alcohol and Drug Client Referrals
Day Treatment Groups (since 01 Oct. 02)
Methadone OrientationISuppot-t Group
Professional Consultations
Community Outreach Services
Male
257
2892
33
1651
42
1266
133
Female
304
18
138
713
18
364
14
331
62
Abdl NorrAbon
142
253
872
2733
7
44
432
1583
12
44
550
998
59
136
2001
247
2384
284
17
34
1464
1033
2002
395
3605
51
2015
56
1597
195
32
322
130
81
February - The Buddhist Compassion Relief Fund donated shoes, coats, and
hygiene products to 250 clients as their New Year gift to our HIV community.
March - Easter dinner held at Vancouver Native Health Society with staff volunteering their time to open the center with Austin Gourmet Catering cooking and
donating enough food for over 200 clients.
April - A presentation of the Positive Outlook Program Model was made at the
Canadian Nurses in AlDS Care Conference in Vancouver.
July - UBC nursing students finished their rotation at the Positive Outlook. Staff
and nursing students from UBC developed Antiretroviral Medication Teaching
sheets for clients and Educational Teaching Sheets for Nurses.
- Annual Burning Ceremony held at Capilano Reserve to honor our clients who
passed to the spirit world.
- One Positive Outlook staff attended the XIV International AlDS Conference in
Barcelona with scholarship support from Glaxo Smith Kline in partnership with
Shire BioChem.
September - Vancouver Native Health Society staff set up an information table
at the United Native Nations Gathering in Clinton.
November - UBC nursing students finished their rotation at the Positive Outlook
Program. They presented an education on STDs and Hepatitis B & C for 50 participants at the Women's Health Night at the Downtown Clinic.
December - Positive Outlook Program volunteers were honored at a Christmas
lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
- Christmas dinner was provided to 200 clients on Christmas Day with
thanks to Austin Gourmet Catering and Winnipeg Rye Bread for cooking and
donating the food.
Aboriginal injection drug users in Vancouver Canada are twice as likely as nonAboriginal drug users to contract HIV according to a study published in the
January 7th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Dr. Patricia Spittal, a medical anthropologist and co-author of the study, said,
"These are truly astonishing and alarming statistics. We have developing world
statistics and we have developing world conditions right here in one of the wealthiest countries in the world." Martin Schecter, head of the BC Centre for
Excellence in HIVIAIDS, said the study shows that public health programs
designed to fight the disease "are woefully short of funds" according to the Globe
and Mail. He added that the data "should ring alarm bells in Ottawa".
The above report is alarming and validates what those of us who work on the front
lines see - there is indeed an increase in Aboriginal IV drug users sero-converting to HIV+ status. Over the past 5 years the population of Aboriginal HIV+ persons has increased from 32% to well over 55%. As our statistics show we are at
the saturation point in terms of service delivery and demands.
Vancouver Native Health Society has repeatedly requested that the regional
health board evaluate the Positive Outlook Program's success in providing a
model of care, treatment, and support for HIV+ multi-diagnosed persons but to no
avail.
It is unconscionable that programs providing culturally specific care, treatment,
and support are neither evaluated nor supported with adequate funding by our
regional health board. Once again Aboriginal persons suffering from a devastating epidemic are being marginalized and being forced to take a back seat to other
groups accessing the national health care system in terms of funding and
resources.
heway is a partnership initiative bringing government and community together to provide comprehensive health and social services to women who are
either pregnant or parenting children less than 18 months old and who are
experiencing current or previous issues with substance use. It was established
in the Spring of 1993 and has demonstrated success in meeting the complex
health and social needs of women and their infants struggling with issues or
impacts of chemical dependency.
Sheway operates in a client-centered, woman-focused, environment. The
Program dedicates both time and energy to creating positive relationships with
women based on trust and mutual respect. Services are delivered both through
outreach and drop-in. Key program areas are: Food and Nutrition Services,
Primary Health Care Services, Counselling Services, Healthy Child Development,
Advocacy, Community Education and Fundraising.
The philosophy of Sheway services is based on the recognition that the health of
women and their children is linked to the conditions of their lives and their ability
to influence these conditions. Hence, Sheway staff work in partnership with the
woman as she makes decisions regarding her health and the health of her child.
{"'
.itRENT 2
Sheway is a partnership organization. The four partners provide the following
staffing resources:
Ministry of Children and Family Development provides:
2 Social Workers
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority provides:
3 Community Health Nurses (1 Full-time, 2 Part-time)
1 Aboriginal Community Health Nurse targeting SlDS education and awareness
1 Nutritionist
2 Addictions Counsellors ( both part-time)
Physicians - sessional (currently provided by 3 physicians) - available 5
afternoons per week
1 Coordinator
Vancouver Native Health provides:
1 Administrative Assistant
1 Medical Office Assistant
1 Receptionist ( part-time)
2 Cooks ( both part-time. These positions exist thanks to CPNP Funding)
Vancouver YWCA provides:
1 Outreach Worker
2 Infant Development Consultants
The above staff listing reflects an increase in Infant Development Consultant
support to our families. The funding for this position came from the Ministry of
Children and Family Development and the position is administrated through the
YWCA.
As well, thanks to temporary funding from United Way Success by Six, we
have had 2 part-time Family Support Workers funded until April 30, 2003. The
'In-house' Family Support Worker provides In-house support and information to
all families in the program including maintaining the Client Information Boards
and the newly developed Resource Area. The Outreach Family Support
Worker works with Aboriginal clients in transition. As the children have
approached 18 months of age, this staff person has worked with the mothers to
connect them with ongoing resources and other supports in the community.
These positions are administrated through VNHS.
-
active caseload remains 100 clients
Illnew intakes in past year
122 discharges
60% women age-range 20-29
60% women Aboriginal
39% HepC+
12% HIV+
74 babies born
80% having healthy birth weights
0
Our First Annual Sheway Family Picnic was held at New Brighton Park.
Approximately 50 families were treated to food, entertainment and transportation.
This initiative was largely supported by donations. Judging from the feedback
there is a plan to make this into an annual event, pending funding availability.
The annual Christmas Party was held at a new venue: the Maritime Labour
Centre. The new space more than met the needs of providing a festive event
for Sheway's families. Two hundred people, adults and children, were treated to
a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, choral entertainment, access to children's
activities and a visit from Santa. The event was entirely supported by individual
and community donations.
The Dedication of the new site housing both Sheway and YWCA's Crabtree
Corner took place in December. Aboriginal Elders blessed the site which is
located at 533 East Hastings and is expected to be completed in the late Fall of
2003. As well as housing both Sheway and YWCA' s Crabtree Corner, the site
will also include 12 housing units for Sheway clients.
Additional funding resources from MCFD supported the 4-year lease of a Van.
This is an exciting new addition to the program and, among other enhancements to programming, will facilitate group outings organized by our Outreach
Worker.
The MCFD funding which supported the new IDP position will also support a
piece of research exploring the IDP work of the past decade. The research
will also include an exploration of the use of Lay Home Visitors in service delivery of various aspects of programming.
Community Education: Sheway staff continue to present the work, challenges and successes of Sheway to various audiences: government and
community agencies, educational institutions, Boards of Directors and businesses, international and national conferences. There are, on average, 2
presentations a month by staff.
Thanks to the work of our In-house Family Support Worker and a Nursing student, our group room has been transformed into a Client Resource Room. A
survey was conducted with the clients asking what types of resources and
materials they would want to access and, with the use of a small budget and
client and community donations, the room now houses many resources for
the clients to access at their leisure.
Our Food and Nutrition Program has been very fortunate to receive the continued volunteering support of interested nutrition and dietetic students from
UBC. They provide invaluable support in the kitchen!
Sheway receives many requests to volunteer and is seeking to enhance its
client volunteer base. This had always been done on an informal, ad hoc
basis. In recent years there has been a need to formalize the process. A
working group of staff was struck and has developed foundation documents
for volunteering at Sheway. These documents include items such as: a
revised application form, a confidentiality agreement requiring signature,
expectations and job descriptions.
Client volunteers have been of great assistance in helping us sort through
donations and creating opportunities for women to create crafts. Beautiful
Christmas trees were made by many to take home! We are looking forward
to more opportunities to include interested clients in volunteering.
Children's and Women's Hospital is opening a new unit, Fir Square. The unit
aims to help substance-using women and substance-exposed newborns stabilize and withdraw from substances. Women will have access to counseling
I
I
3
and instruction to enhance critical life skills, coping mechanisms and parenting techniques. Newborns will be provided specialized care that meets their
needs while withdrawing from prenatal substance exposure. Mothers and
their newborns will be cared for together in the same room, whenever possible. This program is the first of its kind in Canada. This service will be
available to Sheway clients who require this additional support while in hospital.
Colocation planning with Crabtree Corner continues. Staff from the two programs met in the Spring for two days of Planning. More opportunities will be
created in the coming year for the two groups to come together to discuss
changes and plan for the future together.
Food. This past year Sheway experienced a significant change to the kitchen
meal preparation and menu planning. In the past, Food Runners provided prepared entrees. In the late Fall of 2001, this support was no longer available.
Food preparation and menu planning is now a daily event and quite labour intensive involving the Nutritionist, Cooks, kitchen volunteers and most members of
the staff. This change has significantly impacted both the CPNP budget and the
overall Sheway budget as all foods are purchased now. Many avenues for additional funding support are being sought.
Provincial cutbacks - while Sheway staffing and resources were not directly
affected by the provincial budgetary cutbacks this past year, Sheway
resources and staff have been greatly impacted by the cuts as the demands
of the clients have intensified. Clients are experiencing greater challenges in
securing adequate food for themselves and their families, adequate shelter,
finances for transportation, access to child care. As a result, Sheway is experiencing greater demands from both our current and former clients for food,
bus tickets, support for older children who can no longer attend child care.
There is no evidence that these demands will lessen in the near future.
2003 marks the 10-year anniversary for Sheway. Sheway Council has set
aside funds to support an event to honour the work and the successes of the
past 10 years.
It is anticipated that the new site will be ready before the end of 2003. The
co-location of Crabtree Corner and Sheway is an exciting venture and will
enhance access to services for our women. As well the new site will expand
availability of transitional housing for Sheway clients.
Sheway will be involved in a number of research projects. The School of
Social Work and Family Studies will be looking at the work of Infant
Development support these past 10 years including interviewing of previous
clients; a physician from the Department of Family Medicine will be working
with interested clients to explore their definitions of health through the medium
of photographs; and, Sheway will be working with Crabtree Corner and Dr.
Christine Loock to explore the use of brief intervention therapy for addictions
with post partum women
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is adopting a new database system,
PARIS (Primary Access Regional Information System). Sheway will be transferred to this new system and all the staff will become trained in its use.
Sheway is a unique program offering highly specialized services to a population
with highly complex needs. The program continues to grow and shift to meet the
needs of the clients and to demonstrate that harm reduction philosophy and practice is an effective method to engage marginalized women and assist and support
them on their path of health.
To increase the knowledge base of injection drug users (IDU's) in the
province of BC with respect to prevention, treatment information, and
related issues pertaining to Hepatitis C & HIV (co-infection).
Staffing for this period consisted of HepHlVE coordinator Ken Winiski,
assistant Will Firby and Darlene Morrow who returned for approximately
six months, all part time. Program staff worked many hours of overtime
freely, usually at home doing research on the internet.
The past year has seen HepHlVE come into it's own as the program
expanded on the modes in which educational materials are delivered and
significant progress was made in the scope and impact of our outreach
efforts locally, throughout the province of B.C other provinces, a few US
states and Europe. The key here is that HepHlVE achieved this through
the development of our own educational materials, responding to some
of the needs and gaps that were apparent. The need for comprehensive
low to medium literacy materials for those with less access to educational opportunities who were infected or affected by Hep C or co-infection or potentially infected were factors we identified and strived to
achieve. The Aboriginal community, having a much higher rate of infection than the general population, was another area that needed more
materials, for consumers, family, friends, and CBO's, with a broad spectrum of mandates serving current or former injection drug users and/or
infected or affected by Hep C, HIV or co-infection. The general population is still largely unaware of Hep C and co-infection.
The social determinants of health that lead people to such self-destructive behaviour as IDU are numerous and interwoven. Poverty, cultural
genocide, residential school syndrome, stressed out parents unable to
give their children a good head start, lack of adequate or any housing, lower
educational and work opportunities, serving as examples. The mental, emotional,
spiritual and physical stresses that people who feel stigmatized or marginalized
may experience can double the chance of early death. All of these factors and
more can result in the complex lives of people with IDU activities. IDU is the major
cause of new Hep C infections and far easier to contract in this manner than HIV.
The catch 22 is that often, the stringent requirements for Hep C treatment don't fit
the needs of IDU's chaotic lifestyles or others that don't fit in a box. A less rigid,
more humanistic society, providing a realistic atmosphere, conducive to positive
change for all, and the individual, is needed. A strong message for Hep Clcoinfection prevention must reach the optimum level of awareness now and not
later. Giving people hope and providing current and accurate treatment information, coping skills, info about available studies, and new developments is also
absolutely essential. The number of people with hepatitis C in BC is estimated at
around 43,000, with approximately half unaware that they are carrying this virus.
The majority are believed to be men of middle age. IDU is currently the most common means of new infections but the tainted blood tragedy contributed to those
infected, and several other mostly low risk but potentially significant means of
transmission, have made it necessary to keep up on the latest info on Hep Clcoinfection on a daily basis. Unless there is a concerted and timely effort by governments, those who influence policy and funding institutions, to reach people
currently infected, as they age there will be a tragic cost in terms of lives lost to
end stage liver disease. Health care costs will also skyrocket at enormous financial expense to the taxpayer.
Our progress in the area of capacity building in developing a stronger Hep C and
Co-infection awareness, by vastly extending our network of CBO's who help us
reach individuals and other organizations, has greatly expanded but there is still
much work to be done. Our booklet HEP C BETWEEN YOU AND ME and the
video based on the book, with an Aboriginal focus, was developed because of a
higher than average number of Hep C infections in this population. HepHlVE
received a provincial grant for both productions from what at the time was the BC
Aboriginal Health Division. We must thank Ginette St. Amant and Lisa Allgaier,
who at the time were respectively, Aboriginal Coordinator of Provincial Initiatives
and Director of the Aboriginal Health Division and VNHS for their support and
inspiration. Vancouver Native Health Society was credited on the cover and in this
way we helped raise the awareness of VNHS as well as HepHIVE. The program's
most recent materials are a set five low to medium literacy glossy sheets. These
were made possible by a P.E.A.C.H grant. We also did a series of articles called
Liver Action. HepHlVE contributed articles for publications and delved into local
print media, the internet and T.V. community announcements as a complement to
our usual heavy postering to advertise our annual HepHlVE Health Fair. We realized the mass media has much potential to raise awareness of our cause.
HepHlVE did an hour-long show about Hep CICo-infection on the program
Indigenous Sovereignty Network at Vancouver Co-op Radio. For people
who wanted information with a more scientifically complex view we had a number
of books and other materials to distribute from such sources as Health Canada,
NATAP, and the program received a large donation of the book
Hepatitis Everything You Need to Know written by two doctors and two nurses.
The latter was used at our Annual Hep C Fair at the Carnegie Community Centre
for a voluntary Hep C data-collecting questionnaire. HepHlVE made day trips in
several directions to drop off our materials to many Aboriginal organizations,
bands and reserves and such places as health units and prisons.
is
n
Me -The popularity and reach of this HepHlVE
booklet went beyond anything anticipated and is very gratifying. Produced by the
grant previously mentioned, this booklet has gone throughout the province in the
thousands and the program has received many requests from most other
provinces, the U.S. and some have even reached Europe. The program continues to be inundated with requests for more of the booklet and the video based on
it and our low lit sheet series.
0-The concept was that of an Aboriginal person's journey through the different stages of learning about Hep C. HepHlVE filmed a native drumming group
at the Surrey Cultural Centre who were edited into the film in different stages and
they gave the film much of it's emotional resonance. The film is by no means state
of the art but has also been very popular and also demonstrates the program's
effective initiative well. It was copied and sent out in large quantities with many
requests for more.
-
Meant to have a somewhat circular look, and highly graphically illustrated, developed with a grant from PEACH. These sheets are low literacy and low literacy materials are very much in demand. Recognized by
P.E.A.C.H as a success.
- The name was chosen partly as a play on words...how the liver
acts or functions and taking action for liver health. They were meant to cover
some of the less common but important topics and be easily absorbed. Among the
topics were the importance of water, antioxidants, exercise, and coping skills.
These were done in a medium literacy form without illustrations. These were produced without a grant as HepHlVE materials.
The original intent of the project was to increase the knowledge base of injection
drug users in the province of BC with respect to prevention, treatment information
and related issues pertaining to Hepatitis C and HIV, we became known most predominantly as a good resource for reliable Hepatitis C information. In retrospect
this was determined in practical terms by a few factors. The staff that made up
HEPHIVE, had all been profoundly touched in personal and varying terms by hepatitis C, making it somewhat more of our specialty than HIV, although all staff had
experience with HIV infected persons. The program's staff had experience working with a combo of HIVIHep C and dual diagnosis in the DTES andlor with HEP
C VSG going back a number of years. Secondly, the VNHS program POP is a
comprehensive HIV program, and BCPWA, AIDS Vancouver, and other CBO's
also have HIV covered well as their specialty or a prominent part of
their mandates. However, HepHlVE kept up the hepatitis CIHIV co-infection part
of our program by including it in the reading of current research, development of
materials and workshops. HepHlVE did numerous workshops locally and around
the province with BCPWA and many more in our own capacity and numerous others with more informal partnerships. Co-infection is an area that is not greatly
understood by researchers. It is known that Hep C and HIV can adversely affect
each other and there are dangers regarding toxicity and medications. Locally in
the DTES we did regular walkabouts distributing our materials to DEYAS on
Hastings, DEYAS Needle exchange, First United, PACE, Carnegie Community
Centre, women's organizations, Co-op Radio and many others.
HepHlVE received a steady trickle of health care professionals and consumers
coming to the office. The street nurses, advocates, Lynn Greenblatt from Health
Canada in Ottawa for example. We have consumers coming, ranging from those
with end stage liver disease, with seriously compromised health, to people wanting to know about herbal products, pregnancy and sexual safety. The program's
main means of contact with both consumers and health care professionals, is
through a large amount of email, faxes and phone calls. Much of .the email has
been in the form of breaking news on current research findings and treatments
that require some time and concentration to absorb as much of it is of a complex
scientific nature.
HepHlVE email had a huge increase in the number of CBO's we interact with,
largely requests for the program's own materials and more again. The same goes
with calls to the office but we get many more calls from clients, either by referral
or through seeing our pamphlet or materials.
6
HepHlVE has done workshops with other organizations such as Healing Our
Spirit (HOS) and BCPWA and many more as an individual entity. These have
included such events as the HOS-PAN (Pacific AIDS Network) conference in
Kamloops, road trips with BCPWA. Locally HepHlVE did workshops for Harbour
Lights VANDU, Bert's Recovery House, the Women's prison in Burnaby and
many, many others.
COPdFE
HepHlVE premiered our booklet at the Healing Our Spirit-PAN conference in
Kamloops early in the year, and no doubt that helped increase the demand for our
materials. HepHIVE's co-ordinator drove Highway 16 from Prince Rupert to
Vanderhoof, doing workshops and stopping at organizations on the way. The First
Annual Aboriginal Hepatitis Conference in May in Edmonton was very well organized, diverse and a really positive experience for HepHIVE. Our volunteer, Warren
attended with HepHlVE as well as a local activist Carol Dawson and thanks to
both for their support. HepHlVE premiered our video and distributed the
program's other materials. No doubt this conference helped our materials go out
to many Aboriginal organizations across Canada and helped us build on our now
vast network. HepHIVE1sco-ordinator was invited to an organizing conference in
Toronto for the Canadian Harm Reduction Strategy, attended and participated in
many conference calls for further organizing. He had a paid trip to the conference
but gave up his seat to a local activist in Harm Reduction of many years standing.
HepHlVE also attended a Hep C Community Consultation Conference in Ottawa.
There were Health Canada skills building conferences in Courtenay and
Vancouver. HepHlVE also participated in the newly formed BC Hepatitis Circle,
which is loosely modeled on PAN.
G rota p s
HepHlVE represents Hepatitis and Co-infection on the Consumers' Board. This
group has members representing a broad range of social concerns affecting people in the downtown eastside. In turn they have a member on our advisory board.
: * ~ a i t $Fairs
l
1 .
Like last year, a workshop series at the Carnegie Centre built up to the 2nd Annual
HepHlVE Health Fair with a good roster of speakers at this well attended event.
There were info tables from local CBO's providing services to those infected or
affected by hepatitis. The Oppenheimer Park Health Fairs were mutually beneficial experiences.
Most of the programs at VNHS received our materials and we developed often
mutually beneficial relationships. In closing, a quote from the World Health
Organization site on the net, " Several workplace studies done in Europe show
that health suffers when people have little opportunity to use their skills and low
authority over decisions." Thanks so much to Lou Demerais, VNHS Executive
Director, and the board, for providing a positive atmosphere and the opportunity
to be part of this great organization.
Darlene Morrow ond Ken Winiski
VANCOUVER N A T I V E HEALTH SOCIETY
The Underage Safe House was created by four downtown eastside community
agencies: RayCam Community Centre, WATARI, DEYAS and Vancouver Native
Health Society. It is one of the community initiatives which was developed as part
of the Vancouver Action Plan for Sexually Exploited Children and Youth.
The Underage Safe House is a voluntary short-term program for street-involved
and high-risk youth. Our mandate from the Ministry of Children and Families
Development is up to a thirty-day stay; however, extensions are always a possibility. The basic target group for our program is youth between the ages of thirteen and fifteen years who are street-involved in Vancouver. We can make
exceptions on the issue of age when necessary and accept youth that are twelve
or sixteen years old. Also, youth who are peripherally street-involved, or who are
homeless and possibly not yet street-involved, may be admitted to the program
depending on our ability to offer them truly safe housing.
ro
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Goals
To take youth off the street;
To have a safe place for youth at risk to reside;
To offer creative1constructive alternatives to street youth;
To provide a non-judgemental home environment;
To assist youth in self-empowerment; and
To assist youth in finding a safe place to live.
We have three Safe Houses, one two-bed house and two three-bed houses. The
two-bed house is staffed by two house parents and the three-bed houses are
staffed by three house parents.
The house parents provide day-to-day care, support and nurturing to residents.
Because we are a short-term residential program, and usually a first step away
from street life, it is not appropriate for our staff to do in-depth counselling or therapy with the residents. Staff provide guidance, support and assistance to youth
with the issues/crisis situations that youth struggle with.
Safe House staff are able to do outreach which enables them to connect with new
kids on the street, former residents and youth who may be AWOL from our program. The house parents also assist the youth by referring them.to other collateral services. Safe House staff perform liaison work with government and community workers as well as advocating for the youth when necessary.
The house parents provide life skills training to our residents in order to help them
move to a long-term resource. They work with them in different areas such as
schooling, social skills, recreation and long-term goals.
Through the years of experience dealing with underage street youth our staff have
developed many skills to help meet the individual needs of each of our residents.
One of the most effective intervention tools we possess is our recreation component. Staff are very creative in offering youth a wide variety of recreational activities like skiing, snowboarding, Canadian baseball games, bowling, ice skating,
swimming, walks on the beach etc. This year we have gone camping and on ski
trips thanks to some donations from CKNW. Besides the above activities, youth
and staff enjoy spending time at the Safe House doing crafts, playing pool, computer games, basketball and board games.
The majority of youth that we service are dealing with issues such as sexual
exploitation, substance abuse, negative self-image and suicidal ideation. Over
the last year we have noticed that the "drugs of choice" for the majority of our residents are alcohol and marijuana. This brings us to another serious concern.
Most of the youth we work with are struggling with serious emotional issues related to family member loss, abuse histories andlor dealing with untreated psychiatric issues. Any of those youth who are peripherally street-involved or already
heavily street involved that have access to any of the so called drugs of entrance
(alcohol and marijuana) could become as heavily dependent on these as any
other heavy drug.
One of the problems that our program has been facing for many years is the frustration of getting phone calls from collateral agencies or youth self-referring in
which we are not able to provide services to the underage youth because the
youth is not in care. At the present moment through the Hard Targeting Meeting
and the outreach from our staff, we have been able to identify a large number of
underage youth that are not being serviced by residential programs. These are
youth that for some reasons are refusing to go back home, or the family does not
want them home. They are already using marijuana andlor abusing alcohol. The
majority of the youth are female and some of them are already being sexually
abused while they are intoxicated or passed out from alcohol consumption.
There is a considerable link between alcohol and sexual exploitation. So alcohol
and marijuana are NOT only the drug of entrance to use other heavy street drugs,
alcohol and marijuana are drugs that can expose our youth to sexual exploitation.
With the large number of youth that are out there with no safe housing options,
we have recognized the need to create some kind of program for this type of
youth to help bridge the gap from the street to the youth's homes. In late
December of 2002 Vancouver Native Health Society representatives met with the
Ministry of Children and Families Development and they agreed that the
Underage Safe House could intake youth that were not in care as of January 1,
2003 on a two-month trial period basis.
In the past year, our supervisor Allan Roscoe, one of the pioneers in creating the
Underage Safe House, moved on to a collateral service agency. We miss him and
wish him the best of luck.
The positive, caring and compassionate energy of our staff is well reflected by our
previous and current residents. Very often our staff get phone calls from former
residents asking them for advice or support. We have youth showing up at the
Safe House at different hours to debrief some of their problems that they are
going through in their life. We have former residents phoning us regularly just to
say "Hi". These are the kinds of boosts that keep us motivated and optimistic
because the above cases reflect how much those youth appreciate staff's care
and assistance.
The Youth Safe House Project's primary goal has been to develop close relationships between our staff and the youth that we serve. It is only through that close
relationship that staff are able to provide constant guidance, encouragement, trust
and advocacy that these youth desperately need and may never have experienced previously. Our goal with every youth who enters our program is to have
them move to a long-term placement that fits their needs and where they can
move along with their lives.
Despite the fears of financial cuts and changes pending to social services, our
house parents and support staff continue to do exemplary work at the Underage
Safe House. Their commitment, compassion and quality of care, which is unique
in all circumstances, are very impressive.
Carole
Carole initially had contact with the Underage Safe House while one of her friends
was a resident here. She had come over to the house to join in on a program
activity. At the time she was fourteen years old and living at home. The police
and the Ministry of Children and Families Development were involved with her
family because her father was known to deal marijuana and there were often late
night parties with numerous young teenagers involved. Carole admitted to consuming alcohol and marijuana.
Later on in the year, Carole's father passed away. Her friends who were former
Safe House residents, expressed to Safe House staff that they were concerned
for Carole because she was "out of control" with drinking and getting into fights.
She was still living with her mother and was not interested in getting help at the
time.
A few months later, Carole was referred to the Underage Safe House due to a
family breakdown. After a night of heavy drinking, she got in a physical altercation with her mother's boyfriend and was removed by the Ministry of Children and
Family Development. She was placed at the Safe House. At this time she was
registered in and had been attending high school. She went to school from the
Safe House for a few days and let staff know that she wanted to switch schools.
With staff's help, she enrolled into a different school, which she liked. She presented as being quite shy, and it took a long time for her to open up and be able to trust
staff.
The case plan was that Carole's mother would leave her boyfriend and would find
alternate living arrangements for herself and Carole. Staff helped Carole try to find
an apartment, as well as how to look for employment, as she wanted an after school
job. Since Carole's mother was not effectively looking for an apartment, staff advocated for Carole to continue to stay in care until her mother found a place. Her care
agreement was extended. This was a very emotional time for Carole. Even though
she was attending school regularly, she still was going on drinking binges where she
would black out, or be picked up by the police. Carole started to open up to staff
about the fact that drinking made her forget about her life and not have to feel pain.
She talked of missing her dad and feeling unwanted by her mother. Carole was
already connected to a counsellor and staff encouraged her to see him as well.
Over the weeks, Carole started to talk about her future and wanting to be a photographer. She said that she never thought about it before, but felt motivated to finish
school. Everything would be going well, then she'd talk to her mom, get upset and
go drink with friends. Every time this happened, she would talk about it with staff,
who tried to help her come up with other ways to deal with being upset. Carole liked
to do puzzles and felt this was a way to keep calm. She decided to save her
allowance money to buy puzzles and art supplies, instead of alcohol.
Once again, her care agreement was running out and would not be renewed. Staff
tried to help her find an apartment, but her mother was not willing to look with her.
When her care agreement ended, she was moved to a Safe House for sixteen to
eighteen year olds. She has done recreation with the Underage Safe House Staff
and keeps in touch by phone.
Statistics
The following statistics are based on forty-four youth that have accessed the
Underage safe House. Because some youth were intaked into the Safe House
more than once, we had fifty-nine intakes into the program.
Number of Youth
Number of Male Youth
Number of Female Youth
44
14
30
INTAKES (59)
\ I7 Female 73%
3
$ Male 27%
Number of lntakes
Number of Male Intakes
Number of Female intakes
YOUTH (44)
Thirty-four of the fifty-nine Intakes (58%) were youth known to have been
sexually exploited.
Twenty-one of the forty-four youth (48%) were known to have been sexually
exploited.
AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
- 28 DAYS
REFERRAL SOURCES
District Office - RQB
District Office - RLC
District Office - REC
Young Eagles Treatment Centre
Vantec School
The Haven
Self
New Westminster After Hours
Foster Parent
Covenant House
ASU (Adolescent Services Unit)
Vancouver After Hours
Age of Youth
12
Years
13
Years
14
Years
15
Years
16
Years
17
Years
18
Years
Old
Old
Old
Old
Old
Old
Old
1.69%
6.78%
18.64%
47.46%
16.95%
6.78%
1.69%
ETHNICIN OF YOUTH
Youth
Caucasian
Latin American
First
NationsICaucasian
HOME
COMMUNITY
Youth (44)
1
1
1
1
l~orth
Vancouver
New Westminster
Richmond
1
Vancouver
Alberta
Calgary
Edmonton
Ontario
London
Ontario
Peterborough
l ~ r o i sRiviers
I
Intakes (59)
3
2
1
2
2.27%
2.27%
2.27%
2.27%
1
3
2
2.27%
6.82%
4.55%
23
1
1
5.08%
3.39%
I . 69%
3.39%
1
3
3
1.69%
5.08%
5.08%
52.27%
33
55.93%
1
1
2.27%
2.27%
1
1.69%
1.69%
1
1
2
2.27%
2.27%
4.55%
1
1
2
1.69%
1.69%
3.39%
1
I
1
2.27%
1
1
1
I
1.69%
I
CASE OUTCOMES
he lnner City Foster Parents Project was established over nine years ago
thanks to the innovative lobbying of community residents and representatives from the downtown eastside community. At the time, there were a significant number of children and youth that were being removed from the community and being placed in foster homes well outside the community in outlying
areas of the lower mainland including Abbotsford and Mission, considerably surmounting an already traumatizing and life changing experience.
T
Since 1997, the program has increased dramatically both in size and in scope.
The program has more than doubled with regard to foster families registered to
ICFPP who receive support and services and in reference to the number of children and youth who receive the integral support and services unique to the geographical needs of the downtown eastside and inner city of Vancouver. We
believe it is essential and every child's right, that while they are in care, they are
ensured a vital link to their cultural identity as Aboriginal people of Canada. There
are a very high percentage of First Nations children who participate in this program and an even higher number of those who have special needs. We take
exceptional pride in our successes and the goals we have achieved with these
families, despite a budget that has never fully addressed the reality and needs of
this valuable program. It is with honour that we have been given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these foster families, most particularly of
course, the children and youth in care and have participated in pioneering the
meaningful contributions to the foster care system as a whole.
G~als
+ To ensure that Aboriginal children and youth in care maintain an essential link
to their cultural identity.
+ To reinforce that children and youth in care have the right to safety, security,
continuity and consistency as well as a loving home.
+ To provide meaningful and effective support and services to foster families,
children and youth.
+ To provide meaningful one-to-one assistance, guidance, support and advocacy wherever needed with foster families.
+ To promote and represent ICFPP in the community with agencies and organizations that supports a mutually healthy and effective working relationship.
+ To provide workshops, traditional gatherings, cultural events and training to
foster children, youth and foster parents.
&-?rijgr.12rsi
<,3,Lxef=.:,
'
The number of foster families who receive support and services from the lnner
City Foster Parents Project fluctuates roughly between 40-50 foster families
annually. The number of children and youth who participate in the program usually is static at 130+ and of those at least 95% are Aboriginal. The majority
has special needs that vary in definition and degree. We would like to increase
the number of Aboriginal foster families beyond the 60% that are currently
engaged with the program. The foster parents are genuinely amazing and wonderful people. Some have been with the program since it's inception. The importance of the retention of these crucial and unbelievably valuable people is as
important as finding new homes. ICFPP has an extremely high percentage of
retention of foster families, largely due in fact to the dedication of an extremely
small team and the innovative approach to taking the needs of the foster families
first and foremost and being flexible with revisiting this regularly and adapting to
the changing climate.
Workshops, Events, Training and Traditional Gatherings have included topics
such as The History of the Residential School Legacy, Traditional First Nations
Parenting, Grief Loss and Separation, Anger Management, Stress Management,
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect, ADHD Children and Challenges,
Beadwork, Basket Weaving, Drum-Making, Aboriginal Arts and Crafts, First
Nations Interactive Dance with varying Nations, Elder storytelling and oral history, Conflict Resolution and so much more. When we are able to, we organize
these essential workshops and training. We also do field trips that have an educational component, wherever possible and whenever funding grant or proposals
are successful. We have an Annual ICFPP Summer Picnic gathering, traditional
gatherings or dinners with program participants and of course, our most popular
annual event, the ICFPP Annual Christmas Dinner and Tour of Lights. It was once
again held at Hastings Community School with a catered turkey dinner, a visit
from Santa Claus (who this year strongly resembled a certain G.M. who still does
work with our program) with gifts for all the children and the very magical bus tour
of decorated homes in Vancouver and Burnaby. Thank you to Jeff and others at
Grayline Buses for the donation of the use of two very large buses and the time
and energy of the bus drivers. Thanks also to Gary Mavis who, as my Mother
puts it, the event would not be the same without. Also, thanks to donations from
Musqueam Band highlighted by Lew Harvey and Allyson Fraser, The Lower
Mainland Christmas Bureau, Variety Club Christmas Angel Fund and Ruth
Dudoward.
Unfortunately, due to restricted budget constraints, we were not able to have our
Aboriginal Healing Day Celebration, but we are optimistic for the year 2003.
Overall, it has been an extremely busy and productive year.
The Inner City Foster Parents Project is funded by the Ministry for Children and
Family Development and sponsored by Vancouver Native Health Society. It is the
considerable support and commitment from VNHS staff and board of directors
which has enabled ICFPP to strive and move forward with such energy and determination in such a tenuous and ever-changing environment as well as provincial
government uncertainty. As mentioned earlier in this report, while ICFPP is
pleased to have funding from the ministry, it is nonetheless a wholly inadequate
and unfairly representative budget that we are expected to operate within. A great
deal of time is put into fundraising, proposal writing and grant applications every
year and the planning for such starts at the very beginning of the fiscal year. It
has lead to a great deal of stress as well as burnout and it is imperative that this
is addressed. We are hopeful that this will indeed be done with the imminent
transfer of ICFPP from MCFD to the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family
Services Society. We anticipate that this will not change location or sponsorship
of the program, but will offer an opportunity for the valuable and integral as well
as extremely effective support and services that ICFPP provides to be recognized
and addressed in a budget that fairly and accurately reflects what ICFPP has
been contributing and maintaining for years.
Having said that, it is still a part of our plan to continue to be innovative, not only
in our fundraising efforts but to retain additional monies through community grant
proposals to provide additional field trips and events. We hope that this will be on
occasion and not a regular aspect of time management and activities of the
Program Manager. At the time of this printing we did receive some monies from
United Way for a project, from The Royal Bank of Canada and anticipated monies
from The BC Gaming Commission. We will always strive to continue to be creative and consistent in offering a wider and more educational range of experiences to the foster families, in addition to our regular traditional gatherings, events
and services as well as support.
The Staff of ICFPP currently consists of a Program Manager, Administrative
Assistant as well as approximately 8-10 part-time Childminders and many, many
volunteer staff. Without the donated time and effort of the volunteers much of the
activities would not be possible. ICFPP staff is a very small but effective team that
is comprised of individuals who contribute an excess of their time and expertise
that enable us to operate at the level in which we do. It is truly an example of a
fine chain of links that were you to remove one, the entirety would fall apart. We
also have a wonderful steering committee that meet quarterly. We work with
many community agencies, many of whose representatives have participated in
our varied fundraising efforts and for those who have donated their time
for that, we thank you. We understand that we all have a frenetic schedule but
these people have genuinely put words into action and contributed to this program
and the participants in a tangible and meaningful way. A very special thanks to
Steve Boyce, the Executive Director of Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and the
staff there as well. It is not an understatement to say that without the support
received from Mr. Boyce this project would not be able to operate at the capacity
it does. We have virtually most of our meetings and much of our activities at
Kiwassa as well as our respite care initiative, the Drop-off Daycare activity which
enables foster parents to have some time to themselves or to take care of things
to do that are difficult with many children to care for. The children and youth participate in arts and crafts, activities, movie nights, computer time, dinners and
much more. Many restaurants in the Lower Mainland, Burnaby and the North
Shore participate in our fundraisers by donating dinners for two to our charity auctions. We offer free advertising the night of the event and any media coverage
wherever possible as well as the knowledge of the value of their donation toward
the program. A new Administrative Assistant, Rosalind Merkley, started in
September 2002 and we welcome her.
As mentioned earlier, we are cautiously optimistic that in the year 2003 with the
transfer of ICFPP from MCFD to VACFSS, the changes that are so desperately
needed with regard to a fair and reflective operating budget, will be addressed
and adjusted as proposed. It still amazes me and is what compels me to continue each year when I witness the dedication and devotion of the foster parents I
have come to know and respect through the years, and the bond that is unmistakable between these families. It is the eyes and voices of the children, many of
whom I have watched grow into teenagers and youth right before me, who truly
provide me with the fortitude and devotion to a program that has become such a
large part of my life. As I watch them, interact with them and am humbled by their
apparent unnerving strength and courage, this is what gives me the resolve to
continue to forge through never-ending "no's", knock endlessly on closed doors
and to deal with an adversity that is nothing in comparison to the life experience
these children and youth have faced to date, bravely and with little choice. Maybe
it would be of more benefit if most of us could remember this and our own childhood, for better or for worse, when we are asked to support causes for children
and youth, moments of our time and energy and just a general genuine concern
for them. They are the future that may well determine many of our fates and the
beneficial changes, in the best interest of as well as the physical and emotional
~ealthof the children of tomorrow.
T
he Co-Ed Upgrading Skills Program (C.U.S.P.) is no longer available.
Originally it was sponsored by the Vancouver Native Health Society
(V.N.H.S) and funded by the Ministry of Social Services (M.S.S.) Community
Service Fund. This fund supported many service projects in the Downtown
Eastside. It is now defunct and many programs were terminated November 1,
2002. Unfortunately, C.U.S.P. was one of them. It is with deep regret, we, the staff,
are no longer able to provide a program promoting individual holistic healing.
Many participants expressed their gratitude for their time spent while in a personal healing process.
The program was available for everyone living in the Downtown Eastside and on
income assistance. All were welcome regardless of age, race, gender, or creed.
The majority serviced were Aboriginal, Caucasian, Metis, Inuit, and a few were
from India and Asia. The length of time in the program depended on what their
needs were. Many were unemployable due to physical disabilities, mental illness,
no work experience, alcohol and drug addictions, emotional and educational
deficits, anger issues, fetal alcohol syndromeleffects, illiteracy, and most were in
early stages of recovering from heroine and crack addictions. A few had severe
learning disabilities. Many of the participants had employment barriers due to
early childhood experiences of caregivers abuse, neglect, or outright indifferences. Most were abused physically, verbally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually,
and battered. Regardless of what their background influences had on their
lifestyles, the C.U.S.P. program recognized - given a positive learning and healing program- individuals still had the potential to develop to the best of their ability. The objective of C.U.S.P. was to provide a program to help individuals gain
self-confidence, self-esteem, and feeling of worthiness. The program goal
focused on empowering the individual to strive for a greater sense of personal and
economic well -being.
The C.U.S.P. program took a holistic non-judgmental approach and it gave students unconditional regard and respect. The curriculum was based on five modules that were flexible and interchangeable. They were graduated and incorporated into weekly schedules. As the need for personal development, academic
tutoring, environmental and cultural awareness decreased, more emphasis was
placed on the technical aspects of accessing and obtaining further regular
upgrading, career training, or entering into job workshop program. Many students
went on to receive their grade twelve diploma, some are fully employed in security positions. Many went into career training at Vancouver Community College,
King Edward, LangaralHastingsIPowell, Main Terminal: schools for upgrading.
We have our first candidate in the British Columbia University's Aboriginal
Doctor's program. One of our first students, 1993, is now a practical nurse in
Prince George, another student is now a financial aid worker, two former service
men are back in the work force: one an oil-rig driver; the other a landscaper.
One is a women's counselor, and our East Indian whose languished for nine years
on Downtown Eastside, and who also has a University of India Computer diploma, went into security training at Douglas College, is now fully employed by a big
hotel as head computer security surveillance. There are many more success stories: some big, some small, but too numerous to list. All the above realigned dysfunctional behaviors and made cognitive positive changes. It is beyond a doubt
the C.U.S.P. program provided a literal wake that made it easier for students to
strive to their best functional ability. Because this is not a usual report but a final
one submitted to the V.N.H.S. by the Coordinator of the C.U.S.P. program, RENA
M. PURJUE, it seems appropriate to present a group profile of two hundred and
five participants which will highlight the conditions that helped maintain and reinforce an individual's barriers for gaining personal and economic independence.
Included are the last fifty-five students who attended in 2002.
STATISTICAL GROUP PROFILE OVERVIEW:
Target group: Two hundred and five Aboriginal, Caucasian, Metis, Inuit and nonstatus and other.
Data Collection: Statistics were taken from application forms, which were then
compiled and columned in a single register.
Measurement Approach: Ratio out of all 205 or the number reported.
Control for Bias: Only the data presented was taken and compiled for this study,
to whom it belongs to is unknown. All participants were on income assistance.
Number of Participants
Gender:
Female
Male
The program went Co-Ed in 1997, which explains a higher percentage of females.
Grade 8 and Under
9-10
11 - 12
Statistics highlights literacy and educational deficits.
Ages:
Under 30
31 - 4 0
41 - 50
over 50
Age frames may indicate several environmental or care giver neglect,
and possible intergenerational effects of the legacy of the Residential
School System.
Marital Status:
Single
Married
Separated
Divorced
Common-law
This may infer an inability to form long-term attachments or commitments
to others. Therefore it may highlight emotional and social deficits.
Parental Status:
Childless
Children in home
Children in care
Children with relatives
Reflecting, on personal information, many participants raised in foster
care now have children in care. For many it was too painful to remember
their losses. It can only be inferred broken family bonds or lack of
parental role models influenced the outcomes.
Participants Caregiver Backgrounds:
Raised
Raised
Raised
Raised
205
by parents
by single parents
by foster care
in Residential Boarding School
Indicates most suffered emotional and attachment deficits, and it can be
inferred, most were physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and culturally deprived including the 36 % who were raised by parents.
Background Abuse Reports:
205
Those
Those
Those
Those
Those
Those
61
61
59
59
45
44
reported
reported
reported
reported
reported
reported
physical abuse
mental abuse
emotional abuse
verbal abuse
sexual abuse
battered
%
%
%
%
%
%
May indicate what influenced levels of lack of confidence, low self1 /
esteem and feeling of unworthiness. It can be inferred any abuse affects
an individuals striving ability.
Substance Abuse Reports:
172
Alcoholism
Drug addiction
Both
None
It can be inferred there is corroborative evidence indicated there is a relation
between the numbers reporting abuse and those who are now self abusing: alcohol and drug abuse 61 % and for those who were abused 59 % and 61 %.
Health Status Reports:
Good
HIVIAIDSIHEP C
Addiction
MentalIFetal Alcohol Syndrome1 Effects
Disabled
Indicates only one hundred and ten are still maintaining good health. The other
ninety are incapacitated by diseases related to alcohol and drug addiction. Thirtythree percent are in some terminal phase of incurable illness. They are unemployable.
Work History Reports:
205
Never worked
Seasonal work
Career related
It can be inferred that 83 % had employment barriers due to educational deficits,
lack of job experience, and no career training. The career related, 17 %, who participated in the program fell victim to drug addiction, alcoholism, and there were
those that just needed counseling and redirection.
Comment: Between 1994 to 2002, C.U.S.P. submitted annual statistical reports. Each
one demonstrated a similarity of client needs. The common factor was, a majority
lived in the Downtown Eastside and they were on income assistance. The studies
highlighted a myriad of personal deficits. These deficits proved to maintain, reinforce
and perpetuate a client's state of helplessness, poverty, and despair. Without program help and community support, these conditions will persistently affect not only
the individual, the community, but society as well. Logically, we have to recognize
what is wrong before we make corrections. The C.U.S.P. program followed this logic
and proved it was effective for improving a clients' personal conditions in order to
strengthen their striving capacity. In the future, we hope the program will be able to
obtain funding support to continue the work done by a unique program.
our Directions Recovery Program (FDRP) formerly known as PreRecovery Employment Program (P.R.E.P) is sponsored through the
Vancouver Native Health Society and has been in partnership with the
Lookout Society since 1996. In 2002 the funding was provided through
Vancouver Health Board Community Services Fund and the Ministry of
Human Resources. However, for 2003 the Community Assistance Program
(CAP) will be the program's funding provider.
F
FDRP provides services to assist with the needs of any adult person, both
male and female whom have been affected by dual diagnosis disorder. Dual
Diagnosis consists of emotional and mental disorder, substance misuse
including alcohol and drug use. Some common types of mental illnesses
includes; schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, depression and anxiety disorder.
FDRP provides a non-judgmental atmosphere where everyone is welcome.
Clients have been referred to us through mental health workers, social workers, alcohol and drug counselors and self-referral. We are located at #217-524
Powell Street. The program's hours of operation are Monday to Friday from
9:30 to 4:00 and the programs group sessions run from Monday to Friday
12:OO p.m. to 4:OOpm.
FDRP offers support to clients by providing a holistic approach to learning and
healing. Learning and healing is accomplished by introducing them to the
teachings of the Medicine Wheel. This teaching is successful because it heals
the individual as a whole person, by taking care of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional needs. The medicine wheel helps the clients to understand
positive coping mechanisms for everyday living.
FDRP starts the day by serving and sharing a hot nutritious meal with the
clients, as well as information on healthy eating. After lunch a Smudging
Ceremony is performed and is followed by a Talking Circle that gives each
client an opportunity to speak. There are many opportunities within the program to participate in ceremonies.
FDRP enhances and supports clients desire to recover and to help them maintain their lives free of alcohol and drugs. Further, the program strives to
achieve the participants desire to recover and want to learn harm reduction
strategies. This program offers different skills workshops, cultural awareness
and spiritual
FDRP is staffed by a coordinator and an assistant - coordinator. Also on
staff are volunteers and practicum students from different training programs, colleges and universities. The staff also participates in all lunches, workshops, ceremonies and other events within the community.
Program topics include the following:
12 Steps of Discovery and Empowerment
Relapse Prevention
Angerlstress management
Building self-esteem
Positive communication
Self assertion & actualization
Referrals to self help groups
Community resources
Guest speakers
The goals and objectives of FDRP are to empower our clients to change
their way of living to a more positive and healthier style of living. The program
helps them to learn and heal using a holistic approach. This approach includes
positive role models, field trips, arts and crafts, and different healing workshops
and ceremonies. Other goals are to increase educational awareness around dual
diagnosis, alcohol and drug use and mental health issues.
Approximately fifteen to twenty participants sign up to attend each module.
The program consists of a five- week module that includes a graduation ceremony for those clients that attend at least fifteen days of tire module. Then there is a
one -week break for follow-up reports as well as recruitment of clients and the
next session program planning.
Positive outcomes include the following:
*
*
*
Detoxification
Education
Employment
Housing
Harm reduction
Abstinence from alcohol & drugs
*
Medication regulation
Psychiatric diagnosis
Training programs
Treatment centers
Volunteering experience
Month
I
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
I
I
Female
Mate
2
3
2
2
1
3
9
10
2
10
1
8
9
8
8
10
8
9
8
2
I
I Positive Outcome
I
1
1
1
21
I
10
117
7
6
6
7
8
5
8
5
7
6
8
9
82
I
The total client attendance for both male and female is 138 clients.
The successful positive outcomes for this report, are 82 clients.
o
ion
The program uses many different healing techniques to promote wellness
and self care in regards to mental and emotional diagnosis especially addiction.
Further, it includes many educational workshops around health issues (HIV,
Hepatitis C, TB, Diabetes) and life skills that encourage the clients to live a more
positive life. As it is evidenced above, the positive outcomes of this program are
extremely high which shows that many clients use the program's teaching's to
overcome their problems.
The main goal for this program in the year 2003 will be to increase the
client's knowledge and skills in regards to employment. This will be achieved by
offering computer training and classes. As well as, resume workshops and practice interviews. Furthermore, it will encourage the client's to volunteer within the
program's kitchen to help prepare and clean up. Other goals include outreach
work and the successful recruitment of more clients overall, especially women.
'.
Acupuncture/Massage
-*."'---
--
-
-
.-*
The Healing Journey
One on One
Counselling
The Residential School Healing Centre continues to provide contemporary and
traditional holistic (physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual) healing services, therapy and counseling to direct and indirect Residential School survivors and
their families.
Provision of these services are delivered by the following team:
Lorne Meginbir (Ph.D.) A registered psychologist, Dr. Meginbir carries his
own caseload of clients; he also provides clinical supervision to the counseling
and therapeutic team, and leads discussion at case conferences that are held
weekly.
Carole Patrick (M.S.W.) Carole is a half-time Counsellor, with an extensive background in mental health. Carole and the Residential School Healing
Centre Elder co-facilitate the Healing Circles that occur each Monday
* Maxine Windsor (B.S.W.) Maxine is the full-time Counsellor who brings a
wealth of first nations Residential School knowledge and experience to the team.
Maxine also is a co-facilitator at Healing Circle evenings at times.
Laura McGraw, R.Ac. (D.T.C.M.) A Registered Acupuncturist, Laura provides the physical support to the survivors through massage, acupuncture and
acupressure, techniques that have been proven to relieve stress, addictions and
other ailments.
Tom McCallum, (a graduate of Gabriel Dumont Institute, Saskatchewan)
Resident Elder, is the traditional counsellor and co-facilitates the Healing
Circles weekly. Tom provides traditional advice, connection to families and culture, coordinates and conducts sweatlodge ceremonies for survivors and staff
and provides insight and guidance to staff and others. "Smudging", a traditional
cleansing ceremony, is available on request.
Jeffrey Hatcher, Registered Music Therapist, had a popular program weekly, a project that is shared with other Vancouver Native Health Society programs.
Sylvia Woods is the Administrative Assistant and front-line person.
Sylvia books appointments and provides information to first-time clients.
Ida Mills is the Program Coordinator, responsible for the everyday activities and service delivery in the Healing Centre, ensuring staff well-being, and program fiscal control and accountability.
Outreach activities by staff result in referrals from local agencies. Positive outcomes as a result of outreach and networking include partnerships with such
events as the Chinese Cultural Festival (August) where the Residential School
Healing Centre shined as we presented an all-aboriginal Fashion Show and had
a First Nations Zone included in their festivities in August 2002. Three of our
clients had the opportunity graciously offered by the Mowachaht First Nation to
participate in the annual Canoe Journey in August 2002.
A fund-raising event occurred in April 2002: a Crabfest was held at the Heritage
Hall; entertainment was lead by our Music Therapist, and everyone truly had a
feast. When a request comes in from other agencies to hold an information session on the Residential School system, our staff is more than happy to respond;
such a request came from the Urban Native Youth Association.
Strategic planning retreats are held bi-annually with the Residential School
Healing Centre team. These important events are necessary for our team to step
back, take a deep breath and decide how we are doing as a team, give and
receive constructive advice, for each other, the team and the Centre as a whole.
Advisory Committee meetings are held quarterly. Our advisory committee is
important, as they offer valuable insights and develop policy. With the advent of
the Aboriginal Healing Foundation's termination of funding for their projects, we
will be meeting to discuss sustainability; we feel strongly that five years is not sufficient to address the legacy of Residential Schools.
Care for Caregivers Conference: This year theme was "Well, Well, Well.."
where caregivers from across the both sides of the border registered, to learn and
implement ways in which to attend to personal spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing techniques, using traditional, contemporary and Asian techniques. An
added attraction at this year's conference was Moccasin Joe, a first nation's
comedian who entertained at the Banquet. Moccasin Joe also delivers Healing
with Humor workshops.
Supplementary programs: include Music Therapy on Wednesdays, and until
recently, Art Therapy on Fridays. Our volunteers are eager to assist in areas
such as hosting, setting up for meetings, conferences, cooking, cleaning, etc. As
with our staff and advisory committees, prior to volunteering, everyone agrees to
a criminal record check and signs an oath of confidentiality.
As our reputation grows as a credible, safe and helpful organization, upwards of 400 survivors have either made contact with our office, or are
attending regularly. We attribute this success to our team approach to the wellbeing of ourselves, the survivors, and the community as a whole.
,
+
*
he Aboriginal Head Start Initiative is funded by Health Canada. It is an early
intervention program for First Nations, Inuit and Metis children and their families living in urban centers. The primary goal is to show that locally controlled and designed early intervention strategies can provide Aboriginal children
with a positive sense of themselves, develop in a healthy way, and continue
through their school years successfully.
Aboriginal Head Start is a pre-school setting that prepares our children for their
school years spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical needs.
It is locally designed and controlled, and administered by non-profit Aboriginal
organizations operating in a urban center. It involves parents and the community
in the management and operation of the day-to-day program. Parents are supported in their role as the child's primary caregiver. Elders are also involved. The
pre-school for ages 3-5 operates four days a week with a morning session and
afternoon session with approximately 20 children in each class.
In March of 2002 a new coordinator was hired and in May 2002 two Early
Childhood Educators were hired. The mandate for the coordinators was to develop the Burnaby and Grandview sites. On May 27, we opened doors at the
Marlborough Neighborhood care portable in Burnaby. We were operating, to start,
a Momrroddler drop-in every Monday and Wednesday. We were promoting our
Burnaby Aboriginal Head Start program through brochures and posters and
advertising in the local newspaper. We informed the Aboriginal Team of the
Burnaby School Board. We informed the Burnaby Community Schools. We had
applied to Burnaby Health for an operating pre-school license. On August 30 we
found a new location in Burnaby. We applied to Burnaby City Hall for the site. We
felt geographically, for the families this was a more ideal location. We were successful in our application. We had been successful, all around, in our working
relationships with all the people in the Burnaby community. We were getting ready
to open our doors to the families January 6 , 2003.
The situation at our Vancouver/Grandview site was somewhat different than
Burnaby. The portable is located on the grounds of the Grandview Elementary
school. It would need renovations, before we could move in to fully operate our
program. We opened the doors on September 17, to introduce the Grandview
community to our program. We also had a MomIToddler drop-in on Tuesday and
Thursday. We were promoting Vancouver Aboriginal Head Start through
brochures and posters and renting a table at the Kingsgate Mall. We delivered flyers information to native housing units, as well to our neighborhood living in and
around the elementary school. We were working with the Vancouver School
Board on getting the renovations started and completed. We had applied to the
Vancouver Health Authority for our operating pre-school license. We had applied
to Vancouver City Hall for all our necessary development permits. Again, we had
been successful in all our applications. Renovations probably would have to be
started in November, for completion sometime in December. We would have
opened our doors to families on January 7,2003.
Our Health Canada Renewal 2003 application for Aboriginal Head Start was due
on October 30, 2002. We completed our renewal package on time and it was
hand delivered to the Regional office. The renewal committee met in Vancouver
on November 22. We received a letter from Health Canada on November 29,to
inform us our Contract Agreement would not be renewed. Vancouver Native
Health Society had no choice but to give lay off notices to the Aboriginal Head
Start staff.
This unexpected decision means that our children and families lose out again and
have to wait, once more, for another opportunity. It also means we lose good staff
members who are committed and have much to offer.
All is not lost! We are going to continue to do what we can, with other community
members, to find a way to offer our children and families another program.
ackground:
In August 2001, the Vancouver Early Childhood Support Partnership developed a
proposal for an Aboriginal Early Childhood Support Program Proposal to the
Ministry for Children and Families (now the Ministry of Child and Family
Development).
A community based advisory committee (VAECS) was developed, which consisted of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations that provided services to
Aboriginal children. This advisory committee developed a Community Service
Model that focuses on enhancing the lives of Aboriginal children, (0-6 year olds)
by looking at the gaps and services for culturally appropriate early childhood support programs.
The VAECS Committee has chosen Vancouver Native Health Society as the lead
agency to provide financial, personnel, and program management services for the
VAECS Program on behalf of the VAECS Program Committee.
Strtacttaae:
VAECS Committee:
The Vancouver Aboriginal Early Childhood Support Committee is comprises
of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations that provide programs for
Aboriginal children 0 to 6 years old. The role of the VAECS Program
Committee is to provide guidance, and advice for program service priorities, standards of service, program quality, programs and processes for
training and capacity building for the VAECS Program. The Committee will
also provide guidance and advice for establishing effective standards of
accountability program quality, developing plans and processes for acquiring new programs and services, and the resources to support these initiatives.
VAECS Executive:
The membership on the Executive, from time to time, will be expanded to
include Aboriginal organizations providing early childhood support programs.
As of June 2002, the Executive was been struck and consists of the following
agencies:
Vancouver Native Health Society
Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society
* Downtown Eastside Resident's Association- CAPC
* Aboriginal Mother's Centre Society
Vancouver Aboriginal Council
Urban Native Youth Association
* Helping Spirit Lodge Society
VAECS Executive Committee works in partnership with the Lead Agency and
Aboriginal organizations in the Vancouver region.
As the body entrusted with
the monitoring, implementation of the VAECS Program, the VAECS Executive
Committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining professional communications with the Lead Agency.
The lead agency will be responsible for the contract and financial management of
the Program. As well, the lead agency is to provide financial, personnel, and program management services for the VAECS Program on behalf of the VAECS
Program Committee.
ansoring A g ~ n c y :
The Sponsoring Agency will host a VAECS staff member who will provide early
childhood support services to a specific service area.
The Partner Agency will work with the Program Coordinator and the Sponsoring
Agency in providing services for a specific service area.
Family Support Program:
The Family SupporVDevelopment Worker Program is a family-centre program
and works in partnership with parents and/or caregivers to provide support and
preventative to families who have children (0-6 years old). Although the services
is directed towards the child, the Family SupporVDevelopment Worker will provide
a variety of support services to the family, which may include peer support, advocacy, parenting skill development, life skills training, and linking the family in the
community-based activities/services.
-
Nanaimo Hastings Region
Patricia Alfred
Kiwassa Neighbourhood
Services
2425 Oxford Street
Telephone: (604) 254-5401
Broadway Victoria Region
Nora Wilson
Queen Alexander School
1300 East Broadway
Telephone: (604) 874-4231
-
Commercial - Venables Region
Michele Humchitf
Britannia Community Services
Centre
1661 Napier Street
Telephone: (604) 718-5841
Hastings Main
D'arcy Demas
VAECS Office
3RD Floor, 195 Alexander Street
Telephone: (604) 602-7558
-
Youth Family Support Worker:
The VAECS Family Support Team has a Youth Family Support Worker who with
youth, under 29 years of age, who have children (0-6 years old).
Gerri Lee Williams
Urban Native Youth Society
1640 East Hastings Street
Telephone: (604) 254-7732
Earl
As well the VAECS Team has a Support Worker who will be working with children
who have witnessed abuse or violence in the home.
Donna Koop
Telephone: (604) 31 5-7169
w:l Yr:>uvlg,jsterjH9P
In partnership with the Britannia Community Services Centre - HIPPY Program,
the VAECS team has two HIPPY Paraprofessionals. The HIPPY Program is to
assist parents in teaching their three, four, and five years old at home. It's about
spending fifteen minutes a day at the kitchen able with a story book, a puzzle or
a learning game. HIPPY parents learn how to prepare their children for success
in school and beyond.
b Itwrre lra5t~ssq:ticsn
Kim Kerrigan
Telephone: (604) 786-0869
Administration Office:
3rd Floor, 195 Alexander Street,
Vancouver, BC V6A IN3
Lucy Wallace, Program Assistant
Marilyn Ota, Coordinator
Telephone: (604)602-7558
Fax: (604)602-7559
Awahsuk Preschool
Ministry of Health
BC Aboriginal Child Care Society
Ministry of Social Development and
Economics
BC Association o Infant
Development Consultants
Narcotics Anonymous
British Columbia Women's Hospital
North Health Unit
Carnegie Community Centre
Oak Tree Clinic
Cedar Roads Preschool
Ray Cam Community Centre
The Children's Centre for Ability
St. James Social Services
Children's Hospital
St. Paul's Hospital
Downtown Community Health Clinic
Strathcona Community Centre
Downtown Eastsidelstrathcona
Coalition
Street Front Outreach Services
Storefront Orientation Services
Downtown Eastside Women's
Centre (DERA)
Downtown Eastside Youth Activities
Society (DEYAS)
Eagle's Nest Preschool
First Nations Urban Community
Society
Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children
Triage
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship
Centre
Vancouver Costal Health Authority
Vancouver General Hospital
First United Church
Vancouver Health Department
Future 4 Nations Preschool
Health Canada
Vancouver Police & Native Liaison
Society
Human Resources
W.A.T.A. R. I.
The Lookout
Youth Detox
Ministry of Child & Family Services
Y.W.C.A.
- Crab Tree Corner
VANCOUVER NATIVE HEALTH SOCIETY
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31,2002
CONTENTS
PAGE
Auditors' Report
1
Statement of Operations
2
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
3
Statement of Financial Position
4
Statement of Cash Flows
5
6- 9
Notes to Financial Statements
J O N E S
R i C t 4 A R D S
6r
C O M P A N Y
G E R T I F I E a GENERAL ACGCIUNTANTS
J O N E S
R I C H A R D S
&
C O M P A N Y
AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Directors of Vancouver Native Health Society:
We have audited the statement of financial position of Vancouver Native Health Society as at March 31,
2002 and the statements of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows for the year then ended.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Society's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those
standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Society as at March 31. 2002 and the results of its operations and cash flows of the Society for the year
then ended, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
CERTIFIED GENERAL ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, British Columbia
June 20,2002
Statement of Operations
For the year ended March 31,2002
General
Fund
Capital
Fund
2002
Total
2001
Total
-
$ 1,958,484
$ 1,962,713
796,524
546,554
404,589
305,778
219,914
20,000
666,412
378.1 22
360,846
143,063
72,188
115,000
4,251,843
3,698,344
REVENUES
Province of British Columbia
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Aboriginal Healing Foundation
Doctors' fees funding
Health Canada
Other funding
Gaming revenue
$ 1,958,484
$
796,524
546,5%
404,589
305,778
219,914
20,000
-
-
4,251,843
EXPENSES
AdveFtising and promotion
Amortization
Automobile
Bank charges and interest
Doctors' fees
Donations
Insurance
Meals and travel
Medical supplies
Office and general
Professional fees
Property taxes
Rent
Rent subsidies
Repairs and maintenance
Salaries and benefits
Supplies
Telephone
raining
Utilities
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY) OF
REVENUESOVEREXPENSES
BEFOREOTHERREVENUES
(EXPENSES)
4,137,606
114,097
4,251,703
3,710,260
114,237
(114,097)
140
(11.916)
OTHER REVENUES (EXPENSES)
Rental
Donations
Loss on disposition of capital assets
Miscellaneous
REVENUES OVER EXPENSES $
-
6,440
40,846
6,440
40,846
(4,642)
11,984
-
-
(4,642)
11,984
173,507
(118,739)
$
$
54,768
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
J t J N E S
R I C H A R O S
&
C O M P A N Y
4,910
79,129
(220)
10,468
$
82,371
-9
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
General
Fund
BALANCE, beginning of year
$ 271,996
REVENUESOVERU(PENSES
CAPITAL FUND ALLOCATION
BALANCE, end of year
Capital
~und
$ 374,346
173,507
(118,739)
445,503
255,607
(85,704)
85,704
$ 359,799
$ 341,311
2002
Total
$
646,342
R I C H A R D S
&
$
82,371
701,110
646,342
$
563,971
54,768
701,110
?he accompanying Notes an?an integral part sf these financial statements.
J O N E S
2001
Total
C O M P A N Y
$
646,342
Statement of Financial Position
March 31,2002
General
Fund
Capital
Fund
$ 224,388
427,011
85,942
$ 139,967
106
2002
Total
2001
Total
ASSETS
CURRENT
Cash and short-term deposits
Accounts receivable (Note 3)
Prepaid expenses
-
CAPITAL ASSETS (Note 4)
CURRENT
Accounts payable
and accrued liabilities (Note 5)
Deferred revenues (Note 6)
$ 228,596
148,946
$
204,477
3,239
$
-
364,355
427,117
85,942
$
204,477
$
231,835
148,946
544.404
199,334
59,658
264,379
$
309,824
111,609
3,239
380,781
421,433
204,477
204,477
304,233
136,834
55,566
264,379
204,647
109,967
67,349
377,542
FUNDS HELD IN TRUST (Note 7 )
NET ASSETS
Invested in capital assets
Externally restricted (Note 8)
Internally restricted (Note 9)
Unrestricted
-
304,233
-
136,834
-
55,566
APPROVED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:
J t J N E S
R I C H A R D S
6(
C D M P A N Y
Statement of Cash Flows
General
Fund
Capital
Fund
$ 173,507
$ (118,739)
2002
Total
2001
Total
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues
over Expenses
Adjustments:
Amortization
Loss an disposition of capital assets
Changes in non-cash working capital items
affecting operations:
Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Deferred revenues
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
(227,777)
(26,284)
(81,228)
37,337
$
54,768
$
82,371
110,964
4,642
110,964
4,642
102,486
220
(6)
(227,783)
(26,284)
(77,989)
37,337
(122,158)
(10,112)
132,698
29,173
-
3,239
-
(55,704)
(55,704)
-
( I02,122)
100
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
AND SHORT-TERM DEPOSITS
(124,445)
(55,604)
(I
80,049)
I12,656
CASH AND SHORT-TERM
DEPOSITS, beginning of year
434.537
109,867
544,404
431,748
CAPITAL FUND ALLOCATION
(85,704)
85,704
-
Acquisition of capital assets
Proceeds on disposition of capital assets
CASH AND SHORT-TERM
DEPOSITS, end of year
$ 224,388
-
$ 139,967
$ 364,355
d t 3 N E S
R I C H A R D S
&
C D M P A N Y
$
544,404
Notes to the Financial Statements
March 31,2002
1
GENERAL
524
Vancouver Native Health Society (the "Society") was incorporated under the Society Act as a not-forprofit organization under the laws of the Province of British Cdumbia on April 72. 1990 and is a
registered charity under the Income Tax Act. Its principal purpose is to improve the health status of
Native people, to assist, support, and undertake programs or activities designed to promote health care
of Native people, and to secure or acquire funds, real property or other assistance necessary to meet
their objectives.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Fund accounting
The Society follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions.
The General Fund accounts for the Society's program delivery and administrative activities.
The Capital Fund reports the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses related to the Society's capital
assets.
Revenue Recognition
Restricted contributions are recognized as revenue in the year in which the related expenses are
incurred.
Unrestricted contributions are recognized as revenue in the year received or receivable if the amount to
be received can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured.
Capital Assets and Amortization
Purchased capital assets are recorded at cost. Contributed capital assets are recorded at the fair value
at the date of contribution. Amortization is calculated using the declining balance method at the
following annual rates:
Furniture and equipment
Computer hardware
Automotive
20%
30%
30%
Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided on a six year straight-line method.
In the year of acquisition, amortization is recorded at one-half the normal rate.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting
principles requires the Society's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts reported in the financial statements and related notes to the financial statements. Actual
results may differ from those estimates.
Contributed Services
Volunteers contribute numerous hours per year to assist the Society in carrying out its services.
Because of the difficulty of determining their fair value, contributed services are not recognized in the
financial statements.
6
J O N E S
R I C H A R D S
&
C O M P A N Y
B
March 31,2002
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Income Taxes
Income taxes are not reflected in these financial statements as the Society is a not-for-profit
organization.
3.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
General
Fund
Grants receivable
Goods and services tax recoverable
Sundry receivable
4.
106
-
$
22,035
8,083
$ 396,893
22,141
8,083
2001
Total
$
174,261
20,591
4,482
CAPITAL ASSETS
Leasehold improvements
Furniture and equipment
Computer hardware
Automotive
5.
$ 396,893
2002
Total
Capital
Fund
Cost
Accumulated
Amortization
$ 353,217
246,739
144,855
74,608
$ 328,231
151,018
93,805
41,888
2002
Net
$
24,986
95,721
51,050
32,720
2001
Net
$
79,641
98,223
65,016
21,499
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES
General
Fund
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Payroll deductions payable
Other payable
Salaries payable
J O N E S
$
72,296
101,425
26,483
28,392
$
3,239
-
-
R I C H A R D S
2002
Total
Capital
Fund
&
$
75,535
101,425
26,483
28,392
-
C O M P A N Y
2001
Total
$
40,119
82,277
21,927
27.715
137,786
March 31,2002
DEFERREDREVENUES
Community Care Nursing Initiative Fund
Youth Safe Housing Project restricted to start-up costs
Other deferred revenues
Hepatitis Prevention Booklet Project
Rent subsidies
First Nations and Inuit Health Fund
Health Centre Enhancement Fund
Community Planning Project
$
Deferred revenues represent externally restricted contributions that are related to expenses of a future
period.
FUNDS HELD IN TRUST
The Society maintains, in trust, a term deposit certificate on behalf of a client. As at March 31, 2002,
the funds held in trust totalled $2,000 (2001 $1,000).
-
EXTERNALLY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
$
Head Start program
HIVIAIDS program
PREP program
Sheway program
Other programs
38,837
77,765
12,266
27,331
148,034
18,739
44,828
20,457
(4,131)
124,754
$
INTERNALLY RESTRICTED NET ASSET AND INTERFUND TRANSFER
The Board of Directors internally restricted 'funds to be used for future capital asset acquisitions. These
internally restricted amounts are not available for other purposes without approval of the Board of
Directors. During the year, the Board of Directors transferred an additional $30,000 (2001 $NIL) from
the General Fund to the Capital Fund for this purpose.
-
-
In addition, during the year, $55,704 (2001 $102,122) was transferred from the General Fund to the
Capital Fund in order to fund the cash outlays for capital asset acquisitions.
J O N E S
R I C H A R D S
&
G C I M P A N Y
March 31,2002
10. CONTINGENCIES
A human rights complaint has been filed against the Society by a former employee. It is not possible at
this time to assess the outcome of this claim. Nevertheless, management believes that there will be no
material impact on the financial position of the Society as a result of this claim.
11. LEASE COMM1TMENTS
The Society has premises which are leased under various agreements. The total rental to the expiry
dates is $138,231 plus its proportionate share of property taxes and goods and services tax.
Future minimum lease payments for the next five years are as follows:
Donovan
Lease
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
85,640
14,273
109,441
18,787
4,617
4,617
769
$ 138,231
Loh
Lease
99,913
-
19,800
4,001
4,514
4,617
4,617
769
-
-
$
Lookout
Lease
$
19,800
$
18,518
Expirationdates of the above lease agreements are as follows:
Donovan Lease
Loh Lease
Lookout Lease
May 31,2003
December 3 1,2002
June 1,2006
There are options to renew for a further period of five years at a rental to be mutually agreed upon.
o 2002 Vancouver Native Health Society
Recipient of the 2001 Canadian Red Cross
power of Humanity A wardMGroup Category
Published by:
Vancouver Native Health Society
449 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1P5
Administration Telephone: (604) 254-9949
Fax: (604) 254-9948
Clinic Telephone:(604) 255-9766
E-mail: vnhs@&hawbiz.ca
Website: vnhs.net

vancouver native health society

Transcription

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